Understanding your care, answered

Traditional counselling often focuses on exploring the past, talking through problems, or teaching short-term coping strategies. While these have value, they often don't change the underlying neural patterns generating the distress.

At Cortex, our goal isn't just symptom management, it's root-cause elimination. We use neuroplasticity-informed and nervous system-based approaches to help your brain unlearn automatic patterns of fear, protection, and chronic reactivity.

Neuroplasticity is the brain's proven ability to change and reorganize its pathways. Just as your nervous system can "learn" protective patterns following stress, trauma, or injury, it can also unlearn them.

Our evidence-based modalities break the fear-symptom-fear cycle, helping the brain update its predictions and realize your body is safe.

Yes. Deeply ingrained patterns can feel automatic, but neuroplasticity doesn't have an expiration date. Because these are neurological processes rather than permanent damage, your nervous system remains capable of becoming less reactive, allowing long-standing symptoms to significantly reduce or resolve.

We tailor therapy to your nervous system and goals, integrating several approaches:

• EMDR — processing unresolved trauma.
• Somatic & Body-Based Therapies — cultivating felt safety and regulation.
• Internal Family Systems (IFS) — understanding protective parts.
• Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) — building flexibility.
• Cognitive, Behavioural & Mindfulness — interrupting intrusive thought patterns.

We specialize in conditions driven by an overprotective or dysregulated nervous system:

• Anxiety & Panic — generalized anxiety, health anxiety, panic, overthinking.
• Trauma & PTSD — complex, childhood, and medical trauma.
• Post-Concussion & Brain Injury — dizziness, brain fog, fatigue, sensitivity that lingers after healing.
• Chronic Pain & Persistent Symptoms — central sensitization, chronic fatigue, dysautonomia, POTS.

Yes. POTS and dysautonomia reflect a genuine dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system. Many conventional treatments focus only on managing symptoms by limiting activity.

A neuroplastic approach addresses the reactivity and inflexibility that build after illness, injury, or stress. By teaching the brain to stop anticipating symptoms and misreading normal signals as danger, we help your body rebuild tolerance and flexibility.

We offer both.

• In-Person — at our clinic in Nanaimo, British Columbia.
• Online — for clients across British Columbia and throughout Canada.

For the vast majority of clients, yes. Because our work focuses on tracking inner nervous system states and structured modalities like EMDR, it translates seamlessly online. Many clients find it easier to engage deeply from the comfort of their own home.

Sessions run on a secure, private, encrypted video platform that meets healthcare compliance guidelines. You'll receive an automated email link with one-click instructions. All you need is a reliable connection, a private space, and a device with a camera and microphone.

Yes, both Renée Bueckert and Simona Sebastian are Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCC) in good standing. Most extended health plans in Canada cover clinical counselling by an RCC. We recommend confirming your plan's annual limits and rules for RCCs before your first session.

Yes, for a wide range of providers and provincial programs, removing the burden of upfront costs:

• Extended Health — Canada Life, Manulife, Pacific Blue Cross, Medavie Blue Cross, Green Shield, Empire Life.
• Specialized Programs — ICBC, CVAP, Autism Funding of BC, BCTF, BCMEA.

You'll pay at the time of your appointment, and we'll immediately email an official, detailed receipt with all practitioner credentials and registration numbers, so you can submit it for rapid reimbursement.

The fastest way to start is our secure online booking system. View real-time availability, choose in-person or online, and secure your spot instantly. Prefer to ask a question first? Our contact page is always open.